Ottawa – Natural Resources Minister Carr and Environment and Climate Change Minister McKenna are holding a press conference later today to announce much-anticipated new rules for pipeline projects. The Council of Canadians will be monitoring the announcement and is available for comment.
“The Trudeau government needs to live up to its promises,” says Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy and Climate Campaigner with the Council of Canadians. “This means a new process that includes the Trans Mountain and Energy East pipelines addressing the fatal flaws of the current system around Indigenous consultation, public participation, lack of a meaningful climate test and inclusion of science-based oil spill analysis.”
A hearing order has yet to be announced by the National Energy Board (NEB) for TransCanada’s controversial Energy East pipeline, meaning there is no need for Energy East to be subjected to a transition process. The much-criticized hearings for the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain review are set to end next week. Prime Minister Trudeau had promised the controversial B.C.-bound pipeline would be subject to new rules. This must include a new round of meaningful consultations for people who were previously excluded from the process.
“The Trudeau government has a big job on its hands fixing pipeline reviews in this country,” adds Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “The recent audit of the NEB reveals deep flaws in the institution, while the board itself is dominated by individuals with a background in the fossil fuel industry. There is also the ongoing priority to reverse and then strengthen the many changes made by Harper that derailed our environmental regulations.”
Read more information on the Council of Canadians’ expectations for effective pipeline reviews.
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